Apparatus for dumping cars



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(No Model.)

G. T. DIXON. APPARATUS FOR DUMPING CARS.

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G. T; DIXON. APPARATUS FOR DUMPING CARS.

No.- 591,387. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

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PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE THOMAS DIXON, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.-

APPARATUS FOR DUMPING CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,387, dated October 12, 1897.

Application filed October 30, 1896. Serial No. 610,607. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE THOMAS DIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silver Bow and State of Montana, have invented a new anduseful Apparatus for Dumping Cars, of which the following is a specification. The invention relates to improvements i apparatus for dumping oars.

The object of the present invention is to i provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive apparatus which will be adapted for elevating a car to an inclined position for dumping its contentsand which will be capable of securely holding a car against accidental movement while it is being dumped. The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and-pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In-the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dumping apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, a car being shown in a horizontal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts being arranged for dumping a car. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the arrange. ment of the hopper. l

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

l designates a hinged platform provided with rails 2 to receive a car 3 and mounted at its front end upon a transverse shaft 4, which is journaled in suitable bearings and which is firmly supported on foundations 6, preferably consisting of masonry. The pivot of the platform instead of being located at the front end thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, may be arranged at the center of the same, as the apparatus will operate with the shaft in that position.

The platform is adapted to be swung upward from the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, to an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2, in order to cause the contents of the car to be discharged into a suitable hopper 7, arranged in advance of the platform. The front end of the body of thecar is designed to be removable in order topermit the contents of the car to be freely discharged,

orthe said end may open in any suitable manner. Instead of providing the car with a removable end gate or wall any other suitable form' of discharge-opening may be employed.

The platform is tilted by means of chains 8, disposed at opposite sides of the same and passing through suitable pulleys 9 of the plat form to double them, as shown, in order to decrease'the power necessary for elevating the platform and the car. One 'end of the chain is secured to a horizontal beam 10 of a supporting-frame 11, and the other end of the chain is connected with and is adapted to be wound on a horizontal shaft 12, which is'journaled in suitable bearings of the supporting-frame and which is connected by suitable gearing with any desired form of motive power. As the chain is wound up on the shaft 12 and unwound therefrom the platform will be raised and lowered, as will be readily seen. a

The horizontal shaft carries acog-wheel-13, which meshes with a pinion 14 of a countershaft 15, and the latter carries a cog-wheel 16, which meshes With a pinion 17 of a counter-shaft 1S, and by this arrangement of gearing the number of revolutions of the shaft 12 is sufficiently less than the shaft 18 to obtain the desired power from a comparatively light motive power. The shaft 18 carries a pulley 19, which is designed to be connected by a belt with the motive power for operating the apparatus, and a fly-wheel 20 is also keyed to the shaft 18 and is designed to form abrakewheel. A band 21 is arranged on the periphery of the fly-wheel 20 and has one end connected with the supporting-frame and its other end attached to a brake-lever 22. When the band-brake is'not in use a'nd'the band is thrown off the wheel 20, the latter is adapted to operate as a fly-wheel. is employed for lowering a car from an inclined to a horizontal position after the same has been dumped. V

The tilting platform is locked at any desired adjustment by pivoted pawls 23-, mounted on the platform and arranged toengage curved ratchets 24, and the latter are connected with the supporting-frame and, are located at opposite sides of the platform. The pawls 23, which depend from the plat- The band-brake the clamps.

form, are actuated by springs 25, which hold them in position for engaging the teeth of the curved ratchets, and when the platform is being lowered to a horizontal position by the handbrake the pawls 23 are thrown out of engagement with the curved ratchets. Any suitable means may be employed for throwing and holding the pawls 23 out of engagement with the curved ratchets while the platform is being lowered.

The supporting-frame is composed of uprights connected by the horizontal beam 10, braced at the top, as shown, and supported by inclined braces 26, located in front of the supporting-frame and extending from the top thereof to the foundations (3.

During the operation of dumping the car is held on the platform by front and rear clamps 27 and 28, pivotally connected to the platform at opposite sides thereof and are composed of two sections connected by a turnbuckle 30, which is adapted to tighten The front clamps 27 are inclined, as shown, and are provided at their engaging ends with hooks 31 for engaging the front of the car at the bottom of the body to lock the car against longitudinal movement. The upper sections of the rear clamps engage over the upper edges of the body of the car and hold the same upon the track.

It will be seen that the dumping apparatus is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is positive and reliable in operation, and that it is capable of tilting a car to an inclined position to dump its contents. It will also be apparent that the car is securely clamped to the platform and that all strain is taken ofi of the gearing by the ratchet devices during the operation of dumpmg.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tilting platform adapted to receive a car, front and rear clamps arranged to engage the front end of a car and the upper edges of its sides to hold the car against upward or forward movement independent of the platform, said clamps each consisting of two rods or sections having their adjacent ends oppositely threaded, the inner rod or section being pivoted to the platform, and the outer rod or section being provided with a hook, and a connecting turnbuckle engaging the threaded ends of the rods or sections, whereby the clamps are adjustable, and means for operating the tilting plat-form, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame, a tilting platform provided at its back with pulleys, chains passing around the pulleys and having one end attached to the supporting-frame, a horizontal shaft journaled on the supporting-frame, connected with the other ends of the chains and adapted to wind the same on it, gearing for rotating the shaft, a ratchet arranged adjacent to the platform, a pawl carried by the latter and automatically engaging the ratchet, and a brake connected with the gearing and adapted to regulate the descent of the platform, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame, a tilting platform adapted to receive a car, a horizontal shaft journaled on the supportingframe and located above the platform, chains connected with the shaft and with the platform, curved ratchets located at opposite sides to the rear end of the platform, pawls mounted on the platform and arranged to engage the ratchets, and means for rotating the shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS DIXON.

\Vitnesses:

L. R. IIAMPSON, JNo. M. DIXON. 

